Arthur Henry Sawatzky

In Loving Memory of
Arthur Henry
“Art” Sawatzky
age 82
Art is lovingly remembered by his wife Leona, children Floyd, Delores, Brenda, 
Wayne, Don & Kim, as well as their families.  
He was predeceased by his son Mervin. 

Died
May 19, 2018
Boundary Trails Health Centre 

Memorial Service 
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Crystal City Mennonite Church 
Crystal City, Manitoba
2:30 p.m.

Private Interment ~  Mather Cemetery

Donations in memory of Art may be made to the Mervin Sawatzky Memorial Fund 
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS); 
Box 33 Crystal City, Manitoba R0K 0N0.

Art Sawatzky was born on May 24, 1935.  He is remembered by his wife of almost 60 years Leona and his children Floyd (Sandy), Delores (Dean), Brenda (Doug), Wayne, Don (Jennifer), and Kim (Gord).  He is also fondly remembered by his grandchildren Josh, Jessica, Matthew, Megan, Devon, Brendan, Audrey, Dwight, and Piper; his brothers Ron and Harvey (Margaret); sisters Verna and Dorothy (Jake); siblings in law Henry, John (Irene), Dave (Janet), Lil (Bill); and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his son Mervin, brothers Rudy (Elma) and Alfred (Marge), sisters Anna Marie and Pearl (at infancy), brother in law Abe, sister in law Anne, nephew Doug and niece Margaret.
Who was Art Sawatzky? A loving husband, dad, grandfather, brother, farmer, friend. On October 12, 1958 he married Leona Penner. They would have seven kids, four boys and three girls. They stopped before they finished their pattern of two boys, two girls, two boys, and one girl. They started their family in Roland, Manitoba, and in 1967 they moved to a wee little farmhouse in Mather, Manitoba. They lived there for almost 40 years, and after successfully raising their family they moved to Cartwright in 2006. After 12 years, they moved into a brand-new townhouse in Cartwright which they lived in until December 2017, at which point they moved into their current apartment in Morden where dad was pampered. 
Dad was a man of few words, but he had this look that spoke louder than any words ever could. We would get one warning, and when he turned to us we knew we had pushed too far. When Brenda and Delores found themselves in the midst of a giggle fit at the dinner table, it would always end with one of them being sent to the kitchen. However, in spite of his icy glare, his smile would warm your heart, it was a smile that lit up his face and was impossible not to mirror. Life changed for dad in 1998, with the sudden death of his son Mervin. Life would go on, but some of the light went out.
As children we never enjoyed all the aspects of farm life, but as we got older we learned to appreciate all the experiences afforded to us. Dad taught us kids that mowing the lawn was an art form, everything had to be straight and you could never double up on the pattern two times in a row. No matter the distance, no matter the struggle, our complaints were always battled with claims of his own travels to school in the early mornings as a young child. His love and passion for farming may have skipped over some of us, but we all have a deep appreciation for the hard work and beauty that we passed on to our own families and loved ones.  
Music was a large part of dad’s life, he learned to play the violin and would sometimes play in church when he was older. He sang in a quartet and had a deep bass voice that awed all who heard it. Dad liked playing sports, especially if it involved spending time with his children. He played hockey, curling, and baseball, and passed that passion on to his kids and grandkids.
Christmases in the Sawatzky house were days that will forever stand out in the minds of us kids. Coming home from Sunday School program in the evening, staying in the kitchen with our bag of peanuts, oranges, and candy, while mom and dad put our presents in the living room in seven separate piles. 
He never liked the quiet and found comfort in the noise and chatter of voices, be it from his family or the TV, the house was rarely quiet when he was sleeping, and in his final moments, before his last breath, he was surrounded by that familiar sound from those he loved.
We love you, happy birthday. 

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